Octavia stared at Flynn through slitted eyes. That he hadn’t run screaming in the other direction seemed like a good sign.
Placing the bundle of clothes on the ground, Flynn extended a hand and carefully approached. “Are you… can I touch you?”
There was a hint of nervousness in the witch’s voice that was new. Octavia liked that, possibly more than she was willing to admit.
It reminded her that her dragon was strong and powerful. In this form, she wasn’t just a woman to be pushed around by men. She was a gods-damned force to be reckoned with.
Spreading her wings, the tips brushing the trees on either side, Octavia nodded and lowered her head to the ground. From her peripheral vision, she could just make out the vivid amethyst of her wings. Octavia had always loved the way her dragon looked. Some dragons were green or blue, which were nice colors, but purple was different. Better, in her opinion. It was a rich, beautiful color that made her feel as special as the Emerald Empress herself.
Flynn gulped, his eyes widening as he extended a hand. To his eternal credit, he didn’t tremble. That was more than Octavia could say for far older, Mature males she’d encountered in the past.
The moment the witch’s fingers touched Octavia’s snout, his lips twitched up into a smile. Flynn was always handsome, but when he was happy, it was a sight to behold.
“You are magnificent, Octavia,” he breathed, awe tinging his every word.
She snorted and rubbed her much larger nose against his hand.
The laugh that burst out of him warmed Octavia more than the fire in her veins. It was deep and rich, like a warm hug after a cold day in the rain.
There was a part of Octavia that had been afraid that when Flynn saw her like this, he would not want her. She hadn’t even admitted it to herself until now. The fact that he was not scared of her meant everything.
Flynn circled Octavia, running his hand over her scales. She was an enormous, purple statue as he touched her wings, her flank, and even the spikes on her tail. She focused on her breathing, knowing that even one wrong move could accidentally hurt him. His touch was gentle but strong, just like the man she’d come to know over the past few weeks.
He returned to her front and met one of Octavia’s slitted eyes. “Can you speak when you’re shifted?”
She shook her head. Dragons could communicate mind to mind with each other while shifted, but she couldn’t speak to him. That was reserved to select mated pairs.
Maybe they would be able to do it in the future… if they accepted their bond.
She met his gaze, silently asking,Is that going to be a problem?
He must have understood her question, because he shook his head.
“No, I trust you.” Flynn gathered her clothes and stuffed them in her bag. Adjusting his sword, he asked, “Can I… ride you?”
She dipped her head.
“Alright. Here I go, riding a dragon. My mate is a dragon.”
Maybe Flynn wasn’t taking this as well as it initially seemed. He approached her without trepidation though, and his movements were steady as he climbed up her front leg. He settled in front of Octavia’s wings, his thighs locking around her.
After giving Flynn time to situate himself, Octavia lifted her head to check on the witch. He sat on her back proudly, her bag secured over his shoulder. He appeared natural, like he’d been born to ride. He caught her eye and nodded as if to say,I’m ready.
The plan was simple.
One of Octavia’s hoards was a few hours’ flight away. It was—presumably—untouched. They’d go there first, and then once they had secured the money they needed, they would leave for Sandhaven first thing in the morning.
She roared, the sound shaking the leaves of the nearby trees, and launched into the sky.
The first moments of the flight were glorious. Being unable to shift had been akin to torture, and Octavia was finally free. She swooped through the afternoon sky, careful not to dislodge the witch on her back.
Freedom tasted like the warm summer air, and it felt like home. Finally, she was liberated from the shackles of her mistake.
Bellowing in delight, Octavia spread her wings andflew.
CHAPTER 10
A Dragon’s Hoard and Other Things